Course Content and Outcome Guide for SOC 215 Effective Winter 2017

Course Description

Explores important social issues and movements from around the world. Examines the impact of social changes and actions on individuals and social structures. Focuses on organized social responses and movements to social problems, utilizing a multicultural and critical-thinking approach. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This course meets general education and diversity requirements.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion students should be able to: 1. Apply sociological and multicultural perspectives to social issues and movements. 2. Examine the impacts of social changes and actions on people and social structures. 3. Assess historical and current organized responses to social problems, utilizing sociological theories and multidisciplinary research. 4. Appreciate the diversity of organized social responses to social issues and discover different ways to engage in society.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

The SAC leaves specific assessment strategies to the instructor, but assumes that a variety of formative assessments will be used to test student learning throughout the term, including worksheets, quizzes or exams. The SAC also encourages the integration of the following kinds of tasks into the course to assess student achievement of course outcomes in a more comprehensive and holistic manner:

Short analytical or application papers on specific concepts, themes, and issues

Term or research papers, using a variety of research strategies

Oral presentations

Group research, analysis, and presentation projects

Class participation in full-class discussions and small groups or teams.

Response papers or journals reflecting on life experiences, events, perspectives of lecturers, and social phenomena.

Service-learning tasks or participant observation in a social movement or group working on relevant social issues

Student-instructor conferences

Portfolios

Video projects

Oral histories and interviews

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Sociological and multidisciplinary approaches and perspectives related to the study of global issues and movements and related processes of social change

Social science research and methods appropriate to the study of social change and social movements

Cultural issues relevant to the study of social issues and movements, with particular attention to multiculturalism and diversity

Social stratification and systems of inequality-including social class, wealth and poverty, race and ethnicity, gender and age-with respect to the social issues studied

Social structure and organizational issues with respect to the issues and movements studied

The interface of the major social institutions and social change with respect to the issues and movements studied, from a multidisciplinary perspective

Competencies and Skills

Apply sociological and multidisciplinary approaches and perspectives to the social issues, change, and movements studied

Write and communicate orally in a clear, organized, and effective manner

Think critically about the issues and movements and analyze complex social realities

Use varied and effective research techniques and strategies

Develop and refine group process skills, which may include listening, brainstorming, communicating, negotiating, or cooperating on shared tasks

Develop ability to listen to and empathize with diverse perspectives and experiences

Observe and/or participate in social movements and groups related to the issues studied.

Integrate course work with current events and trends through examination of popular and news media on the issues and movements studied

Approved Texts The SAC must approve texts selected as appropriate to the social issues and movements studied.